Laundry apparatus



16, 1956 J. A. SCHWING LAUNDRY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOR. Jflff/ /l ,4. IFIVW/VG- AG'iA/f I 6, 1966 J. A. SCHWING 3,266,274

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet IN V ENTOR.

BY 9% 4/- M n Aug. 16, 1966 J. A. SCHWING LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l5 INVENTOR.

BY W m/ Aug. 16, 1966 J. A. SCHWING LAUNDRY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOR.

dOff/W A. ICHW/A/G Aug. 16, 1966 J SCHWlNG 3,266,274

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent 3,26%,274 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Joseph A. Schwing, Penndel, Pan, assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,437 8 Unions. (1. 68-18) This invention relates to laundry apparatus, and especially to novel wash-fluid pumping means useful in the field of so-called vertical axis washing machines.

Certain features of construction of a machine of this type, to which the invention is especially adapted, are disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,102,408, granted to Joseph Pelensky, and in the copending application of the same inventor, Serial No. 161,962, filed December 26, 1962, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The washing machine of the aforementioned disclosures has a perforate clothes basket disposed within an imperforate tub, said basket and tub each having an upwardly presented opening. A wobble plate agitator is mounted substantially concentrically within the basket. Drive means selectively drives either the agitator, to wash clothes in the basket, or the agitator and the basket as a unit in performance of a centrifuging operation to spin-dry the clothes. The drive means comprises a reversible motor that is driven in one direction to operate the agitator alone, and is driven in the. opposite direction to spin the basket and agitator as a unit. As the water is centrifuged throught he perforations of the spinning basket into the tub, a pump continuously driven by the motor is operable to draw the water through the drain hose, communicating with a sump portion of the tub, and to discharge the water into a conventional disposal drain. When the motor is driven in the other direction, to operate the agitator alOne in performance of the clothes washing phase of operation, the pump works against the head of Water in the tub and its drain hose preventing outflow of water from the tub and into the drain. Further, in machines of this character it is desirable to provide, during the agitation phase, recirculation of the Wash-fluid through suitable filter means for removing lint and other foreign material from the fluid. A separate pump is commonly provided for this purpose.

It is an objective. of this invention to provide novel fluid flow circuit means energizable by a single pump selectively to provide either for drain of the tub or for filtering recirculation of the wash fluid in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pump.

It is a further specific'objective of the invention to provide simple and effective fluid flow diverting means operable, in combination with reversibly driven pump means, to achieve a desired fluid flow function in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pump means.

The apparatus is featured by incorporation of a single impeller pump in the motor, which pump has inlet and outlet ports controlled by diverter valve means to direct the wash fluid through the ports in a predetermined flow pattern determined by the valve means and in accordance with the direction of rotation of the motor.

To the foregoing general ends the invention comprises the combination of a tub, spin basket, agitator, and transmission means rotatable in one or the other direction selectively to spin the. basket or to operate the agitator while the basket remains stationary, with single pump means reversibly driven by said transmission means either to provide for discharge of fluid from said tub as said spin basket is rotated or, as said agitator is operated, to circulate fluid from said tub and basket to a filter disposed above the latter and from which filter the fluid returns gravitationally to the tub and basket.

The invention will be. more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description taken in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of a washing machine of a type to which the invention is particularly adapted;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational showing, partly in section and with parts broken away, of a preferred embodiment of a fluid handling circuit made according to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 2 and demonstrating the flow of fluid during the agitation phase of operation;

FIGURE 4 is a showing similar to FIGURE 3, but demonstrating the flow of fluid during the basket spin phase of operation;

FIGURE 5 is a showing similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention and fluid flow therein during the agitation phase of operation; and

FIGURE 6 is a showing similar to FIGURE 5, but demonstrating the fluid flow circuit during the basket spin phase of operation.

With more particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention preferably is embodied in a washing machine including a cabinet 10, a control panel 11, and an access opening 14 in the upper horizontal Wall portion 12 of the cabinet. A door 13 is hingedly mounted over access opening 14, in accordance with usual practice, to permit loading and unloading of the upwardly presented rotatable container or basket 15 which is nested within an imperforate non-rotatable tub 16. Basket 15 is mounted upon hub means (not shown) which is suitably journalled within bearing means 20 provided in the bottom of stationary tub 16.

A wobble-plate agitator 24 is disposed within basket 15 and is driven by known means including a shaft 25, pulley 26, reversible motor 31, pulley 33 and a belt 34. The above briefly described drive means and the releaseable drive coupling between agitator shaft 25 and basket 15, as well as the coupling between shaft 25 and agitator 24, need not be described in detail, inasmuch as these elements are fully described in the reference disclosures and are not required for an understanding of the present invention.

It will be mentioned, however, that motor 31 is of the reversible type, and when rotated in one direction conditions brake means preventing basket 15 from rotating but permitting agitator shaft 25 to operate agitator 24. When motor 31 is rotated in the other direction, the brake means is actuated to release basket 15 and permit rotation of agitator 24 and basket 15 as a unit to centrifuge water from clot-hes within the basket.

A perforate wash fluid filter pan 35 is supported concentrically upon the center post or wash aid dispenser 37 disposed above agitator 24, and its function will be referred to later in this disclosure.

According to the invention, and with reference also to FIGURE 3 and 4, a wash fluid drain pump 36 is mounted atop motor 31 for drive by motor shaft 32. The pump comprises two ports, a first port being disposed in fluid flow communication with a flexible hose 40 attached to a second drain, or sump portion, 41 of the tub and a second port being connected to drain hose 42. Pump 36 comprises a single rotary impeller, which when rotated in one direction (FIGURE 4) is adapted to withdraw fluid from tu'b 16 through the second drain 41 and hose 40 for discharge through drain hose 42. When the pump impeller is rotated in the other direction (FIGURE 3) fluid is Withdrawn from tub 16 through a hose 43 connected to the first drain in the side of the tub, enters the pump through its first port, and is discharged through the second port, hose 44, and nozzle 45 into filter pan 35. The fluid returns gravitationally from pan 35 to the tub as it is filtered.

To provide for the above described mode of operation, and in further particular accordance with the invention, hose 43 includes a second check valve 46 and is connected to hose 42 by a T connector 50. A first check valve 54 is provided in hose 42, and each check valve is operable either to accommodate or to limit fluid flow as indicated by arrows in each of FIGURES 3 and 4. Hose 44 is connected to hose 40 by a T connector 52. Hose 44 further includes a portion 53 that extends into connector 52 and is presented axially of hose 40, toward pump 36. When the pump impeller is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow applied to pump 36 in FIGURE 3, fluid will be discharged through hose 40 and will flow into extension 53 of hose 44 for flow through nozzle 45 into filter pan 35. Also at this time, fluid to the filtered is withdrawn from tub 16 through hose 43, which flow is permitted by check valve 46. Also at this time, check valve 54 in line 42 prevents inflow of air through the unused open end portion of hose 42, thereby limiting suds formation within the recirculated fluid.

When the pump impeller is rotated in the other direction, in accordance with the directional arrow applied to pump 36 in FIGURE 4, fluid will be withdrawn from tub 16 through hose 40 for discharge through hose 42, as is accommodated by closure of check valve 46 and opening of check valve 54.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the invention provides novel fluid flow circuit means energizable by a single pump selectively to provide either for drain of the tub or for recirculation of the wash fluid in accordance with the direction of rotation of the motor.

Turning now to the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES and 6, basket 115 is nested within tub 116 provided with a drain sump 141. Center post 137 is disposed within basket 115 and supports strainer pan 135. A reversible motor 131 selectively drives belt 134 through pulley 133 either in a forward or a reverse sense. When driven in one direction belt 134 drives an agitator (not shown) within basket 115 and when driven in the other direction belt 134 spins basket 115 and the agitator as a unit.

A pump 136 of the rotary impeller type is supported by motor 131 and is driven by the motor shaft (not shown). One port of pump 136 is connected to a hose 140 leading to one branch 161 of diverter valve assembly 160, and inlet 164 of this valve is connected to sump portion 141 of tub 116. A wash-fluid recirculation hose 144 is connected to hose 140 by a T connector 152. Hose 140 has a check valve 146, and terminates in a nozzle 145 arranged to direct fluid into filter pan 135. The other port of pump 136 is connected to a fluid discharge hose 142 provided with a check valve 154. Hose 142 is also connected to branch 162 of valve 160 by a T connector 150.

Diverter valve 160 includes a pivotal closure 163 movable between a position in which it closes branch 161 (FIGURE 5) and a position in which it closes branch 162 (FIGURE 6). Movement of closure 163 is effected by a solenoid mechanism 165 linked to a crank portion of the closure by a slotted crosshead as shown.

Considering operation of the modified embodiment, control circuitry associated with motor 131 and mechanism 165 during the agitation phase (FIGURE 5) causes motor 131 to rotate pulley 133 and the impeller 136 in accordance with directional arrows applied to the pump and pulley. Accordingly, wash fluid is caused to flow as indicated by the directional arrows applied to the several hoses, T connections and the like in achievement of fluid filtration by pan 135.

When control circuitry (not shown) is conditioned to provide for spinning of basket 115, and with reference to FIGURE 6, the impeller of pump 136 and the pulley 133 are rotated in accordance with applied directional arrows, and solenoid mechanism 165 moves valve closure 163 to the position shown. Accordingly, wash fluid is pumped from tub 116 and basket and discharged through hose 142 in accordance with the fluid flow arrows applied to the various hoses. No flow takes place through the recirculation or filter system at this time.

In either of the above described embodiments of the invention, a single, reversibly driven pump having an inlet port and an outlet port cooperates with fluid-flow diverter means selectively to drain wash-fluid from the clothes basket and tub or to recirculate the wash-fluid through filter means disposed above the level of the fluid, and from which the fluid gravitationally returns to the tub and basket.

I claim:

1. A clothes washing machine comprising: a rotatably mounted clothes container adapted to retain a Wash-fluid; means for draining wash-fluid from said container; means .for agitating wash-fluid and clothes within said container;

a Wash-fluid circulating system including first conduit means leading from said means for draining and a second conduit means connected to said container; pump means including a rotary impeller and having a first port in fluid flow communication with said means for draining and a second port through which fluid may be discharged for subsequent disposal; first check valve means in said second port and permitting flow of fluid only in a direction for disposal of the same; second check valve means in said second conduit means permitting flow of fluid in a direction only in which it is withdrawn from said container; fluid flow diverter means selectively operable either to permit withdrawal of fluid from said drain opening through the recited first port of said pump for discharge through the recited second port thereof, or to permit withdrawal of fluid from said container through said second conduit means for introduction into the recited second port of said pump in a region intermediate the latter and said first check valve means and thereafter to be returned to said container from a region above the normal fluid level; reversible drive means for said rotatable container and said means for agitating, rotation of the drive means in one direction serving to drive said means for agitating while said container remains stationary, and rotation of said drive means in the other direction serving to rotate said container at centrifuging speed to remove fluid from clothes in said container for flow through said means for draining; and means coupling the impeller of said liquid pump for drive with said motor upon rotation of the latter in either direction, operation of said fluid flow diverter means being effected in response to changes in direction of rotation of said drive means.

2. A machine according to claim 1, and characterized in that said fluid flow diverter means comprises a lesser diameter extension of said first conduit means leading into said means for draining and presented to receive fluid as it flows from said first port of said pump means as its impeller is rotated in said one direction, the dispo sition and arrangement of said extension permitting flow of fluid from said container as said impeller of said pump means is rotated in said other direction.

3. A clothes Washing machine comprising: a rotatably mounted clothes basket; a tub enclosing said basket and adapted to retain liquid; first and second drain openings in said tub; means for agitating liquid and clothes within said basket; a fluid recirculating system including an inlet port in fluid flow communication with said first drain opening and a discharge port for returning recirculated fluid to said tub; a rotary fluid pump having a first port in fluid flow communication with said second drain opening and a second port through which liquid may be discharged for subsequent disposal; first check valve means in said second port and permitting flow of liquid only in a direction for disposal of the same; second check valve means in the fluid recirculating circuit permitting flow of fluid in a direction only in which it is sequentially withdrawn from said tub through said first drain openings and discharged for return to said tub; fluid flow diverter means selectively operable either to permit Withdrawal of fluid from said second drain opening through the first port of said pump for discharge through the second port thereof or to permit withdrawal of fluid from the first drain opening of said tub for flow through said first check valve into the second port of said pump and thereafter to be discharged through the first port of the pump and returned to the tub; reversible drive means for said rotatable basket and said means tor agitating, rotation of the drive means in one direction serving to drive said means for agitating while said basket remains stationary, and rotation of said drive means in the other direction serving to rotate said basket at centrifuging speed to remove fluid from clothes in said basket for flow into said tub; and means coupling said rotary pump for drive with said motor upon rotation of the latter in either direction, operation of said fluid flow diverter means being effected in response to changes in direction of rotation of said drive means.

4. A machine according to claim 3, and characterized in that said fluid flow diverter means comprises a lesser diameter extension of said fluid recirculating system presented away from said drain opening and toward said first port of said first pum said extension permitting flow of fluid from said drain opening toward said first port when said pump is rotated in said other direction, said extension further ensuring flow of fluid from said first port through said recirculating system when said pump is rotated in said one direction.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising: a rotatably mounted clothes container adapted to retain a washfluid; means for draining Wash-fluid from said container; means for agitating wash-fluid and clothes within said container; a Wash fluid circulating system including a conduit leading from said means for draining; a split fluid flow connection leading from said conduit; valve means operable selectively to open or close one branch of said split flow connection while the other branch respectively is closed or opened; a rotary pump having a first port and a second port, said first port being in fluid flow communication with said one branch of said connection; a conduit also connected to said first port and leading to a region for discharge of fluid therefrom above the level of fluid Within said container; a check valve in said conduit permitting only the recited flow; said second pump port being in fluid flow communication with said other branch of said connection; a fluid discharge line in fluid flow communication with said second pump port and said other branch; check valve means in said discharge line permitting only discharge flow of fluid through said line; reversible drive means for said rotatable basket and said means for agitating, rotation of the drive means in one direction serving to drive said means for agitating while said basket remains stationary, and rotation of said drive means in the other direction serving to rotate said basket at centrifuging speed to remove fluid from clothes in said container for flow through said means for draining; and means operable to actuate said valve means to close said one branch when said drive means drives said means [for agitating, and to close said other branch when said drive means rotates said container.

6. Laundry apparatus comprising: arotatable container for fluid within which fabrics are washed; means for agitating the fluid and fabrics within said container; transmission means including elements selectively rotatable either in a forward or a reverse sense, rotation in one sense being effective to rotate the container to centrifuge fluid from fabrics within said container in achievement of one phase of a washing cycle, and rotation in the other sense being effective to drive the agitator means while the container remains substantially stationary in achievement of another phase; a single pump including a pair of ports, said pump being driven by reversible elements of said transmission means; means for handling said fluid during said phases and providing either for discharge of fluid as it is centrifuged from said container upon rotation thereof, or for circulation of fluid from said container to fluid treating means from which said fluid returns gravitationally to said container as said agitator is driven, said-means for handling fluid including fluid drain conduit means for said container con nected to one port of said pump, and fluid discharge conduit means connected to the other port of said pump and operable, when said pump is rotated in its one direction, to provide for flow of fluid from said container through said drain conduit means for delivery to the discharge conduit means; and control means operable, when said pump is rotated in its other direction, to prevent substantial reverse flow of fluid from said pump into said container through said drain conduit means and to provide for the mentioned circulation of fluid from said container to the fluid treating means.

7. A washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that fluid strainer means comp-rises said treating means and is fed from said pump as it is rotated in the recited other direction, said fluid flow control means further being operable to effect flow of fluid from said container into said pump as it is driven in the recited other direction, whereby flow of fluid is provided through said fluid strainer means.

8. Laundry. apparatus comprising: a rotatable container for fluid within which fabrics are washed; means for agitating the fluid and fabrics Within said container; transmission means including elements selectively rotatable either in a forward or a reverse sense, rotation in one sense being effective to rotate the container to centrifuge fluid from fabrics Within said container in achievement of one phase of a washing cycle, and rotation in the other sense being effective to drive the agitator means while the container remains substantially stationary in achievement of another phase; pump means including a pair of ports, said pump means being driven by reversible elements or said transmission means; means for handling said fluid during said phases and providing either for discharge of fluid as it is centrifuged from said container upon rotation thereof, or for circulation of fluid from said container to fluid treating means from which said fluid returns gravitationally to said container as said agitator is driven, said means for handling fluid including fluid drain conduit means for said container connected to one port of said pump means, and fluid discharge conduit means connected to the other port of said pump means and operable, when said pump means is rotated in its one direction, to provide for flow of fluid fro-m said container through said drain conduit means for delivery to the discharge conduit means; and control means including a first check valve in said fluid discharge conduit means preventing flow of air to the latter when said pump means is rotated by said transmission means in said other direction, a second check valve disposed and operable to permit flow of fluid through said treating means solely when said pump means is rotated in said other direction, and means forming a common connection of said pump means to said drain conduit means and said fluid treating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,883,843 4/1959 Bochan 68-208 X 2,961,862 11/1960 Smith 6823 X 2,983,130 5/1961 Pinder 68-208 X 3,012,429 12/1961 Evjen 6823 3,144,759 8/1964 Bochan 68- 208 X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

6. LAUNDRY APPARATUS COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE CONTAINER FOR FLUID WITHIN WHICH FABRICS ARE WASHED; MEANS FOR AGITATING THE FLUID AND FABRICS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER; TRANSMISSION MEANS INCLUDING ELEMENTS SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE EITHER IN A FORWARD OR A REVERSE SENSE, ROTATING IN ONE SENSE BEING EFFECTIVE TO ROTATE THE CONTAINER TO CENTRIFUGE FLUID FROM FABRICS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER IN ACHIEVEMENT OF ONE PHASE OF A WASHING CYCLE, AND ROTATION IN THE OTHER SENSE BEING EFFECTIVE TO DRIVE THE AGITATOR MEANS WHILE THE CONTAINER REMAINS SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY IN ACHIEVEMENT OF ANOTHER PHASE; A SINGLE PUMP INCLUDING A PAIR OF PORTS, SAID PUMP BEING DRIVEN BY REVERSIBLE ELEMENTS OF SAID TRANSMISSION MEANS; MEANS FOR HANDLING SAID FLUID DURING SAID PHASES AND PROVIDING EITHER FOR DISCHARGE OF FLUID AS IT IS CENTRIFUGED FROM SAID CONTAINER UPON ROTATION THEREOF, OR FOR CIRCULATION FO FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER TO FLUID TREATING MEANS FROM WHICH SAID FLUID RETURNS GRAVITATIONALLY TO SAID CONTAINER AS SAID AGITATOR IS DRIVEN, SAID MEANS FOR HANDLING FLUID INCLUDING FLUID DRAIN CONDUIT MEANS FOR SAID CONTAINER CONNECTED TO ONE PORT OF SAID PUMP, AND FLUID DISCHARGE CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER PORT OF SAID PUMP AND OPERABLE, WHEN SAID PUMP IS ROTATED IN ITS ONE DIRECTION, TO PROVIDE FOR FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID DRAIN CONDUIT MEANS FOR DELIVERY TO THE DISCHARGE CONDUIT MEANS; AND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE, WHEN SAID PUMP IS ROTATED IN ITS OTHER DIRECTION, TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL REVERSE FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID PUMP INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID DRAIN CONDUIT MEANS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MENTIONED CIRCULATION OF FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER TO THE FLUID TREATING MEANS. 